After lying dormant for 36 years, the Citroen 2CV is making a comeback, with production due to begin in 2028. Before that a preview concept will debut at the 2026 Paris motor show, which takes place in the middle of October.
The 2CV is among a slew of models confirmed by Stellantis at its annual investor presentation, where the automaker also revealed its turnaround plan that will see it launch 60 new models and 50 significant updates by 2030.
A short teaser video, with a shadowy rendition (top) of the 2CV, has been posted on the company’s social media accounts. From what we can see, the new model retains the original’s tall roof, snail-like design, and prominent round headlights.
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Citroen promises the 2CV will have a “lightweight design”, and says “true innovation is not about adding more, it is about making life better and focus on what really matters”.
At the investor event Xavier Chardon, Citroen’s CEO, confirmed the new 2CV will be “100 per cent electric, made in Europe”, and have a starting price “below €15,000 (A$24,500)”. Like the original, which debuted in 1948, he claimed the second-generation 2CV would be “a true people’s car designed for real life”.
For context, at present the cheapest EV in the Citroen range is the e-C3, which has a list price of €19,090 (A$31,100) in France. Some countries are currently offering significant EV incentives that can reduce the price significantly, with France offering €6100 and Germany €3000.
Presumably the 2CV’s €15,000 target price isn’t inclusive of these government rebates. It’s not clear if the new 2CV will be compliant with the new “E-car” regulations that are being prepared by the EU.
The expectation is that Fiat will release a new generation of the Panda as its own sub-€15,000 EV around the same time.
In order to improve economies of scale, the new Panda and 2CV will share most of their electrical and mechanical components, and they will be built alongside each other in Naples, Italy.
The original 2CV was conceived not long after Michelin took Citroen out of bankruptcy in the 1930s, but work on the car had to be stopped and concealed after World War II began.
After being redesigned to meet the restrictions imposed by post-war rationing, the 2CV finally went on sale in 1949 with a 6.6kW 375cc engine. Among its many radical features, it had radial tyres, a folding fabric roof, long-legged suspension, and front-wheel drive.
The 2CV went on to spawn a few derivatives, including the Ami sedan, Mehari off-roader, Acadienne van, and Dyane hatch, which was meant to replace it, but actually went out of production before its progenitor. Like Volkswagen’s Beetle, the 2CV had a remarkably long run, only going out of production in 1990 after around 9.2 million were made.
Sadly, due to Citroen’s exit from the Australian market in 2024, it seems highly unlikely the new 2CV will be brought Down Under.